The Real Reason Rust Is Getting So Popular

Released in 2018, Rust is back in the spotlight. As some are rushing back to play this intense first-person survival title, others may be curious as to why the game has been so popular lately. For those who are wondering, Twitch streamer Mike Grzesiek (known as Shroud) just might have an explanation.

During one of his Rust streams, the subject of playing other games came up, and Shroud had a few thoughts. The insanely rich Mixer star described Rust as "so easy to play." After the word "addicted" entered the conversation, Shroud was quick to deny that as his reason for playing it so often. His reasoning instead was that there isn't anything else worth playing at the moment. From there, he praised the game for its abundance of content, claiming "you can do so many different things." Indeed, Shroud certainly seemed to have a lot of positive things to say about Rust, but his views also offer a grim outlook on the gaming landscape for 2021.

Why is there nothing else to play, as Shroud claimed during his stream? How come the landscape is so barren that gamers are turning to a game that is over two years old?

The video game industry saw numerous delays in 2020, many of which were caused by the coronavirus. Xbox boss Phil Spencer had warned everyone early on about the possibility of future delays, and it's looking as though his prediction has come true. Some highly anticipated titles, such as Halo Infinite and Hogwarts Legacy, have yet to hit the market, leaving a hungry demand where supply may not be able to keep up.

Not only has the recent pandemic had an impact on the industry as a whole, but the community witnessed the consequences of hastily releasing a game that wasn't ready yet. Cyberpunk 2077 had a disastrous launch, and ever since, gamers have changed their tune over game delays. Because of all the backlash from Cyberpunk 2077, there's a good chance that consumers will see a greater trend of release dates pushed back. 

With all of this said, it doesn't take away from the fact that Rust happens to be an enjoyable title. The current landscape has given this survival game a chance to recapture audience interest, and with the possibility of console ports finally on the horizon, things are only looking up from here. Until something new comes along to usurp its position, it looks as though Rust will remain on everyone's radar.